Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsasweet’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstromeria  plant named ‘Zalsasweet’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; pink and yellow bi-colored flowers with few to no stripes; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Alstroemeria hybridacultivar Zalsasweet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida,commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Zalsasweet’.

The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new cut flower Alstroemeriacultivars with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive flowercolors and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in June, 1997 in Hillegom, The Netherlands, of a proprietaryAlstroemeria hybrida selection identified as 95705-5, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybridaselection identified as 96391-4, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Alstroemeria was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands in May, 1998.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by root divisions taken in acontrolled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands, since September,1998, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Zalsasweet have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsasweet’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Zalsasweet’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Erect and strong flowering stems.

2. Vigorous growth habit.

3. Pink and yellow bi-colored flowers with few to no stripes.

4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijnsburg,The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants ofthe female parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had longer flowering stems than plantsof the female parent selection.

2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the female parent selectiondiffered in flower color.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijnsburg,The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had shorter flowering stems thanplants of the male parent selection.

2. Inner perianths of plants of the new Alstroemeria were virtuallywithout stripes, however inner perianths of plants of the male parentselection had numerous stripes.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the cultivarStabec, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,041. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the newAlstroemeria differed from plants of the cultivar Stabec in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had smaller flowers than plants of thecultivar Stabec.

2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had pink and yellow bi-colored flowersthat were virtually without stripes whereas plants of the cultivarStabec had red and white bi-colored flowers with stripes.

3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had shorter peduncles than plants ofthe cultivar Stabec.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Alstroemeria.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringstem of ‘Zalsasweet’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Rijsenhout, TheNetherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15 to 25° C.,night temperatures ranged from 10 to 15° C. and light levels averaged5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and description were about oneyear old. The photograph and the description were taken during Augustand September, 2002. Color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zalsasweet.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as95705-5, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as96391-4, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By root divisions.

Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; white, close to 155D, incolor.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 to 30 cm. Diameter:About 3 to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Close to 155D.

Plant description:

Plant habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy appearance. Vigorousgrowth habit.

Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 80 to 90 days.

Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 224 to 240.

Plant height.—About 125 to 175 cm.

Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 to 30 cm.

Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About 154 cm.Diameter: About 7.5 to 10 mm. Internode length: About 4 to 7 cm.Strength: Strong. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.

Foliage description.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile. Length: About 15 to17 cm. Width: About 2 to 4 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base:Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,glabrous. Venation pattern: Parallel. Color: Developing and fullydeveloped foliage, upper surface: Close to 137C; glossy. Developing andfully developed foliage, lower surface: Close to 137C. Venation, upperand lower surfaces: Close to 137C.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in compoundumbels. Perianth segments separate. Freely and continuously flowering.Flowers not persistent.

Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the spring in TheNetherlands.

Fragrance.—None detected.

Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks.

Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 16 days.

Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 2 to 3 cm. Diameter: About 1to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color: Pink to whitish green.

Umbel length.—About 12 to 15 cm.

Umbel diameter.—About 19 to 21 cm.

Number of flowers per umbel.—About 8 to 11.

Flower length (height).—About 6 to 7 cm.

Flower diameter.—About 5.5 to 7.5 cm.

Flower depth.—About 5.5 to 6.5 cm.

Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each whorl with twolateral and one median segments. Size, inner perianth segments: Length:Laterals, about 6.5 to 7.5 cm; median, about 5.5 to 6 cm. Width,laterals and median: About 2 to 2.5 cm. Size, outer perianth segments:Length: Laterals, about 6 to 6.5 cm; median, about 6.5 to 7 cm. Width,laterals and median: About 3.5 to 4 cm. Shape, inner perianth, allsegments: Oblanceolate. Shape, outer perianth, all segments: Obovate.Apex, inner perianth, all segments: Acute. Apex, outer perianth, allsegments: Bracket-shaped. Base, inner and outer perianths, all segments:Attenuate. Margin, inner and outer perianths, all segments: Entire;weakly undulate. Texture, inner and outer perianths, all segments:Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color, inner perianth, lateral tepals: Whenopening and fully opened, upper surface: Towards the apex, 68A to 68B;towards the base, 8B to 8C with close to 155D tip; occasionally a fewsmall spots and stripes, close to 187A. When opening and fully opened,lower surface: Towards the apex, 68A to 68B; towards the base, 8B to 8C.Color, inner perianth, median tepal: When opening and fully opened,upper and lower surfaces: 68A to 68B with close to 155D tip. Color,outer perianth, lateral and median tepals: When opening and fullyopened, upper surface: 68A to 68B; apex tip, close to 144A. When openingand fully opened, lower surface: 68A to 68B; apex tip and venation,close to 144A.

Peduncles.—Length: About 3 to 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 3 mm. Strength:Strong. Angle: About 20 to 30° from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.Color: Close to 137A.

Pedicels.—Length: About 1 to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 4 mm. Strength:Strong. Angle: About 20 to 30° from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.Color: Close to 137A.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six. Anther shape:Elliptical, flat. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther diameter: About 3mm. Anther color: Close to 153B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:Close to 177A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Style length: About 4to 5 cm. Style color: Pink. Ovary color: Close to 144A.

Fruit.—Shape: Globular. Color: Brownish.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not beenobserved to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Alstroemerias.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been observedto tolerate temperatures from −5 to 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plantnamed